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(No Model.) 0 A MANN BUCKLE.

No. 312,136. Patented Feb. 10, 1885.

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CHARLES A. MANN, or BUFFALO, NEW YonK.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 312,136, dated February 10, 1885.

Application filed December 10, 18%.4. I (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. MANN, the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of buckles which are designed to be used more particularly on wearing-apparel for fastening together the ends of the back-straps of gentleinens vests and pantaloons and for various other purposes; and it consists in the improvement in the construction of the buckle,which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l I represents a plan view of my improved buckle.

F. g2 represents a sectional plan view thereof, with the tongue drawn back to clear the loop through which one of the straps is inserted. Figs. 3 and 4 represent perspective views of the clasp or band for fastening the tongueplate to the buckle-frame. Fig. 5 is a perspective viewot' the buckle. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tongue portion of the buckle. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the buckle slightly modified. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the tongue portion of the buckle illustrated in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 represents alongitudinal section of the buckle.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A A represent the two end loops of the buckle, which are connected together by the center bars, A the end loops, A A, and center portion, A", of the buckle being preferably formed of a single piece of wire bent to the required shape, as shown in Figs. 1. 2, and 5, and constituting the main frame of the buckle.

B represents the tongue portion ofthe buckle, which consists of a shank, b, and the tongues or prongs b. The tongue portion B is secured, with its shank b, to the connecting-bars A in such manner that the tongues b can be moved back and forth over the end loop, A. The

tongue portion of the buckle is also formed of a single piece of wire,which is bent as shown in Fig. 6, the piece of wire being first doubled together near its center, so that the two thicknesses or strands of the wire nearest the center bend will form the shank b. The two strands of the wire are then bent outward in opposite directions from the shank b, and both ends of the wire are bent forward again paral lel with the shank, forming the tongues 11. The outer end of the shank is then bent upward to form a thumb-piece, 0, whereby the tongue portion can be moved forward and backward on the buckle-franie by engaging the thumb or finger against the catch 0. The tongue portion B is secured to the buckle.- frameby means of a clasp or band, D, which encircles the shank b and the connecting-bars A" of the buckle'frame. The clasp or band D is formed of a piece of tin or other suitable metal, which is preferably folded or bent, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, forming two parallel loops or rings, (1 (Z. The connecting sides of the loops (1 form a partition or wall, 6, between them, which serves to retain the shank b and the connectingbars A parallel with each other.

In connecting the parts of which my improved buckle is formed, the tongue portion B is placed upon the buckle-frame with the shank 1) parallel with the connecting-bars A The band D is first bent, as shown in Fig. 3, and placed over the shank b,with the end einserted between the strands which form the shank and the connecting-bars A. The opposite ends of the band D are then bent down and closed on the under side of the connecting-bars Aflthus forming the loops (1 d,and firmly fastening the parts together. The band D fits snugly around the shank b, and is made to slide back and forth with the tongue portion of the buckle as the latter is moved back and forth between the loops. The tongues b are provided on their under side with a notchor shoulder, f, which engages over the inner bar of the loop A when the tongue portion of the buckle is moved forward, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby the tongue portion is held in a locked position and prevented from sliding backward away from the loop A. The shoulder f may be formed by a bend in the wire, as shown in Fig. 9, or by forming a projection on the under side of the tongue, as shown in Fig. 7. If desired,the end loops, A A, and connectingbars A may be stamped out of sheet-brass or other suitable metal, and the tongue portion B may also be stamped out of sheet metal. As shown in Figs. 7 and S, the band D is formed in one piece with the tongue I) by means of ears or lugs g, which are stamped or cut out with the tongue. The tongue is fastened to the buckle-frame by bending the ears 9 around the connecting-bars A, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

H H represent the ends of two straps which are sewed at their opposite ends to the back of a vest or other garment. The strap His sewed or otherwise secured to the end loop, A, and the strap H is inserted through the end loop, A, and fastened therein by sliding the tongue portion B forward, so that the tongues or prongs b will slide over the loop A and penetrate the strap H. When the tongues have been moved forward, the shoulder f will engage against the inner bar of the loop A and lock the tongue in this position. When the tongue portion has been moved backward, the ends or prongs of the tongue bear against the inner bar of the loop A, and the loop A is unobstructed, so that thestrap H can be readily withdrawn.

My improved buckle is simple in construction, and can be manufactured at comparatively small expense, and forms a cheap,reliable, and convenient fastening device.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a buckle-frame composed of the loops A A and connectingbars A of a sliding tongue portion, B, at-

tached to the connecting-bars A, and provided with a tongue, b, and a thumb-piece,c,whereby the tongue can be moved toward and from the loop A, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a buckle-frame composed of the end l0ops,A A,and connecting-bars A, of a sliding frame provided with a tongue, and a clasp or band, D,whereby the sliding frame is attached to the buckle-frame, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a buckle-frame composed of the end l0ops,A A, and connecting-bars A, of a sliding frame, B, provided with a tongue, I), having ashoulder, f, adapted to engage with one of the end loops of the buckle-frame, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 3d day of December, 1884.

CHARLES A. MANN.

Witnesses:

JNO. J. BONNER, ,0. F. GEYER. 

